Boarding platform for boats

ABSTRACT

A boarding platform for boats is provided for mounting near the water line and preferably on the stern transom of vessels of the nature of pleasure cruisers, motor boats and the like. A pair of brackets, for upright attachment to the outer surfaces of the vessel, is provided each with an arm outstanding to have placed and secured thereon a platform of substantial length. In the preferred attachment of the boarding platform to a transom, a pair of U-bolts stand out from the transom or hull. Each is engaged by a pin passing through a pair of spaced-apart upstanding ears forming part of a bracket. The ears rise above the upper surface of the platform. In certain instances the boarding platform may be attached in a pivotal manner so that, as desired, the platform may be swung into upright disposition somewhat parallel to the supporting boat structure.

United States Patent [191 Hendrickson [451 Dec. 31, 1974 1 BOARDING PLATFORM FOR BOATS [76] Inventor: Roger L. Hendrickson, Rt. 1,

Bradshaw Rd., Mount Vernon, Wash. 98273 [22] Filed: Feb. 11, 1974 [211 App]. No.: 441,011

[52] US. Cl 9/1 R, 114/43.5, 248/235 [51] Int. Cl B63b 23/32 [58] Field of Search 9/1 R; 114/435, 235 WS;

3,381,646 5/1968 Ledford.... 114/435 3,613,137 10/1971 Eccles 9/1 R 3,647,089 3/1972 Christensen 214/] A Primary ExaminerTrygve M. Blix Assistant ExaminerJesus D. Sotelo [5 7 ABSTRACT A boarding platform for boats is provided for mounting near the water line and preferably on the stern transom of vessels of the nature of pleasure cruisers, motor boats and the like. A pair of brackets, for upright attachment to the outer surfaces of the vessel, is provided each with an arm outstanding to have placed and secured thereon a platform of substantial length. In the preferred attachment of the boarding platform to a transom, a pair of U-bolts stand out from the transom or hull. Each is engaged by a pin passing through a pair of spaced-apart upstanding ears forming part of a bracket. The ears rise above the upper surface of the platform. In certain instances the boarding platform may be attached in a pivotal manner so that, as desired, the platform may be swung into upright disposition somewhat parallel to the supporting boat structure.

6 Claims, 4 Drawing Figures BOARDING PLATFORM FOR BOATS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a boarding platform which may be secured generally slightly above the water line to the side or rear of, for example, a pleasure cruiser. The boarding platform is detachably secured to the vessel and, on occasion, may be pivotally secured to be swung upward for compact storage during periods of non-use.

Boarding platforms for boats are, of course, known from the prior art. In general, the familiar boarding platforms are structurally integrated into the vessel during the construction stages. As a result they comprise permanent obstructions outstanding from the boat hull and usually may not be disposed in a more compact out-of-use position. It is therefore an important object of this invention to provide a boarding platform for boats which may be attached when and where desirable without necessarily being integrated into the hull during the construction stages thereof. Another object of the invention is to provide a pivoted boarding platform for boat hulls.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention contemplates a platform extending from the hull of the vessel slightly above the water line upon which a boat operator may stand during docking or take-off operation, upon which a dinghy may be carried during cruising, and upon which swimmers may easily pull themselves while reboarding the boat from the water.

The platform is preferably formed of strong rigid material, such as, fiberglass enveloped woody core having a substantial attractiveness, durability, and strength to withstand water and hard usage. The platform is secured to cantilevered arms of a pair of brackets which are suitably attached to and bear upon the hull of the vessel and stand out therefrom. The brackets are arranged for either permanent attachment to the boat hull or for pivotal attachment as desired. Chocks may be attached to the upper surface of the boarding platform to facilitate the location and retention of the gunwale of a dinghy or small boat to be carried.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 4 is a sectional bracket.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the figures of the drawing, this boarding platform assembly for boats comprises the plank, or board 10, a pair of brackets 12, and, when used to receive and support a dinghy 14, a pair of chocks 16.

The board is a composite structure comprising a woody core 18, enveloped or sheathed in a tough, plastic covering 20. The core 18 may be formed of any suitview of an alternative form of able woody material such as balsa, pine or the harder and tougher woods. The sheath 20 is preferably formed of a layer of fiberglass fabric or roving, bound together and tightly sealed about and secured to the core 18 by a suitable resinous material of polymeric origin. For esthetic purposes, I have found it desirable to employ a white opaque resin as the binder for the fiberglass. For practical purposes the upper surface of the platform 10 has an embossed roughened design, here shown in herringbone fashion to provide anti-skid properties.

The chocks 16 include a notch to receive the gunwale 15 of the dinghy 14. Desirably the chocks are mounted on the upper surface of the platform 10 at appropriate locations in spaced-apart relationship by means of screw fasteners 22.

Referring to FIG. 2 the hull portion of a vessel, usually the transom 24 is quite often canted as indicated. The bracket 12 has an outward-extending arm 26 provided with the flanges 28 to rest upon the outer surface of transom 24. Flanges 28 may be as desired fastened to the transom by screws 30.

It is customary in many pleasure craft to have a rearstanding U-bolt 32 the legs of which pass forwardly through the transom and to the interior of the hull where they are tightly fastened by nuts 34. Bracket 12, above the flanges 28, has an upstanding pair of ears 36 in spaced-apart relation. The ears are provided with holes 38 and 40 to receive bolts, such as 42. The upper ends of the cars 36 are curved concentric with the center of the openings 38.

In such instances where the U-bolt 32 is engaged around the bolt 42, passing through the paired holes 40, a bracket will be attached to the hull in a nonpivotal manner. In such instance the installation would be substantially permanent and most likely screws 30 would be used to attach the flanges 28 to the transom 24 as shown in FIG. 2.

Where it is wanted that the platform be attached for pivoting movement from substantial horizontal disposition outward of the vessels hull to an upright disposition, the bolt 42 would be passed through the paired holes 38 and the U-bolt 32 engaged therearound as described.

The alternative structure of FIG. 4 shows an elongated pair of ears 56 rising above the board 10 a substantial distance. The ears 56 are provided with a series of paired holes 58,60 to receive singly or both together bolts 62. This arrangement accommodates numerous locations of factory installed U-bolts 32 relative the water level or water line of the hull. It permits an owner to install his boarding platform 10 close to or high above the water. Of course, pivotal action is eliminated except when one of the upper holes 58 or 60 is used to insert bolt 62 therethrough.

. It will be seen that there is provided a boarding platform which may easily be self-installed, without removing the hull from the water, by relatively unskilled persons, and without requiring additional drilling through the boat transom.

In compliance with the statute, the invention has been described in language more or less specific as to structural features. It is to be understood however, that the invention is not limited to the specific features shown, since the means and construction herein disclosed comprises a preferred form of putting the invention into effect. The invention is, therefore, claimed in any of its forms or modifications within the legitimate and valid scope of the appended claims, appropriately interpreted in accordance with the doctrine of equivalents.

What is claimed is: l. A boarding platform for a boat hull, comprising: a pair of spaced-apart brackets for the hull of the boat disposed in overlying-relation to the waterline thereof; each said bracket having vertically disposed base structure adjacent the hull including an upstanding pair of spaced-apart ears between which extends a through pin disposed in a generally horizontal axis parallel to the hull surface; each said bracket supporting in cantilevered fashion, below said ears and above the lower reaches of said base structure, an outstanding arm; the upper surfaces of said bracket arms lying in a common plane;

an elongated plank secured to said arm upper surfaces in overlying substantially parallel relation to the water line of said boat hull; and

a bolt engaged about each said through pin between the upstanding ears of a bracket and anchored inwardly to said hull.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said bolts are each U-shaped and are associated with said through pins so that the latter are partially encircled.

3. The structure of claim 1 in which said bracket base structure beneath said ears is flanged and screw fasteners secure said base structure to the boat hull.

4. The structure of claim 1 in which the upstanding bracket ears are arranged so that the bracket base structure may be pivotally swung upward about the axis of said bolts.

5. The structure of claim 1 in which said plank comprises a woody core fully encased in a resin-based sheath.

6. The structure of claim 5 in which the plank supports a spaced-apart pair of chocks attached to its upper surface. 

1. A boarding platform for a boat hull, comprisinG: a pair of spaced-apart brackets for the hull of the boat disposed in overlying relation to the waterline thereof; each said bracket having vertically disposed base structure adjacent the hull including an upstanding pair of spaced-apart ears between which extends a through pin disposed in a generally horizontal axis parallel to the hull surface; each said bracket supporting in cantilevered fashion, below said ears and above the lower reaches of said base structure, an outstanding arm; the upper surfaces of said bracket arms lying in a common plane; an elongated plank secured to said arm upper surfaces in overlying substantially parallel relation to the water line of said boat hull; and a bolt engaged about each said through pin between the upstanding ears of a bracket and anchored inwardly to said hull.
 2. The structure of claim 1 in which said bolts are each U-shaped and are associated with said through pins so that the latter are partially encircled.
 3. The structure of claim 1 in which said bracket base structure beneath said ears is flanged and screw fasteners secure said base structure to the boat hull.
 4. The structure of claim 1 in which the upstanding bracket ears are arranged so that the bracket base structure may be pivotally swung upward about the axis of said bolts.
 5. The structure of claim 1 in which said plank comprises a woody core fully encased in a resin-based sheath.
 6. The structure of claim 5 in which the plank supports a spaced-apart pair of chocks attached to its upper surface. 